Surgical frame for hospital beds



Patented Oct. 21, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT-OFFICE y,

SURGICAL FRAME `.Foie HOSPITAL BEDS Earl E. Longfellow,4 Warsaw, Ind., assignor to Harry Hr.- Leiter, Warsaw, Ind.`

Application .my 2, 193s, serial No. .217,232

` roam.` (o1. -92) My invention relates to surgical frames for hospital beds, and more particularly to such frames which Yare adjustable and embody improved and Ysimplified construction. v

4It is an object of my invention to provide a ,newA and improved surgical frame comprising readily attachable and adjustable means for ap- .plying traction to a brokenl limb during knitting thereof and when it is supportedin desired position by -the frame. Y

Other objects, features and advantages of my invention Will be apparent from the following descriptionand the drawing wherein a preferred -embodiment of my invention is clearly show and described.

In the drawing, the single figure is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of my in- Vention.

Having particular reference to the drawing, a bed is generally indicated at I by dotted lines and has a head 2, foot 3, and side rails such as 4.

l An upright support post 5 comprises longitudinally adjustable and telescopically engaging tubular parts 6 and I with the tubular part 'I secured at one end to a saddle 8 by a flanged coupling 9; the flanged coupling 9 preferably being secured to the saddle 8 by rivets such as II). The tubular part 6 is split at one end, as at Il, and is provided with ears I2 adjacent the split. A wing screw I3 extends through one of the ears I2 and is threaded into the other ear to clamp the tubular part 6 in a fixed position with respect to the tubular part 'I. The saddle 8 is secured to the head 2 of the bed by clamps comprising substantially U-shaped members I4 and I5, Ico-operating cross pieces I6 and I'I, and thumb nuts, such as I8 and I9, that are threaded onto the sides of the U-shaped members.

Another upright support post preferably comprises a substantially rectangular tubular member 2| having integral flanges 22 at one end that are secured to a saddle 23 by rivets or other suitable fastening means 24. The saddle 23 is secured to the foot 3 of the bed by clamps Which comprise substantially U-shaped members 25 and 26, co-operating cross pieces 21 and 28, and thumb nuts, such as 29 and 30, that are threaded onto the sides of the substantially U-shaped members 25 and 26.

Pads of felt 3| and 32, or other suitable material, are preferably placed under the clamps and saddles 8 and 23, respectively, adjacent the bed to prevent marring of the bed.

A bar 33 extends between the tops of the upright support posts 5 and 20.

The bar 33 is pref- 55 erably tubular andvpreferablyhas a substantially rectangular or polygonal cross section. Flanges such as V34 on the upperA end of the supportpost 5, and 3,5 on the upper end of the support post 20 yprovide seats for the vbar 33 and are preferably so disposed that the vertical axes of the support posts5 and,20 are substantially diagonal tothe-section Yof the bar. The ,flanges such as 34 and-35 on the support posts 5 and 29,' have slots, such as '36 and 3", respectively, at'the ends thereof which engagethumb screws, such'as 38 and 39, that Y,are threaded into caps 40 andll which -secure'the bar 33 in place withrespect to the support'postsA l5'andv 28. The slots, such as 136 and 3l in the ends ofthe :flanges 34 and 35, are'prqvi'ded to make. removal of the caps 4I) and 4 I fbothquick and easy., The caps :40 and 4 I are preferably angular and t the surface of the bar Arms 42, 43, and 44 extend outwardly from the bar 33 and are supported thereby substantially at right angles to the bar and parallel to the surface of the bed. The arms 42, 43, and 44 are secured to the bar 33 by flanged couplings 45, 49, and 41, co-operating caps 48, 49, and 59, and thumb screws 5I, 52, and 53, respectively. The flanged couplings 45, 45, and 4l and their cooperating caps 48, 49, and 50, respectively, have flat surfaces engaging the bar 33 to prevent rotation of the arms 42, 43, and 44, with respect to the bar 33. Pulleys 54, 55, and 56 are secured to the arms 42, 43, and 44, respectively, by clamps 51, 58, and 59; the clamps 51, 58, and 59 being adjustable longitudinally of the arms. The positions of the arms 42, 43, and 44 are adjustable longitudinally of the bar 33. An arm 60 is supported on the post 2U by a flanged coupling 6I, co-operating cap 62, and thumb screws, such as 63. The arm 60 is adjustable longitudinally of the post 20 and prevented from rotation with respect to the post by engagement of the coupling 6I and cap 62 with the flat surfaces of the post. A pulley 64 is supported from the arm 6I) by a clamp 65, which is adjustable longitudinally o1' the arm 60. A depending arm 6B is secured to and supported by the arm 42 by a coupling 6l. A pulley 68 is secured to the depending arm 66 by a clamp 69 and is adjustable longitudinally of the arm 66. A depending hand grip 'I0 is supported from the bar 33 by a chain II and a clamp I2 to which the chain is secured and which is clamped around the bar 33.

An arm 13, which preferably comprises a rectangular bar, is secured to the post 20 by a clamp comprising flanges 'I4 on the end of the arm "I3,

which engage the surface of the post, a cap 15, and co-operating thumb screws 16 which extend through the cap and are threaded into the flanges 14. The arm 13 is substantially perpendicular to the post and parallel to the foot 3 of the bed. Pulley support bars 11 are secured to and supported by a sleeve 18 that is slidably tted onto the arm 13. The pulley support bars 11 have substantially parallel depending portions 19 and curved top portions 80 which space the parallel portions 19 from the foot 3 of the bed. Substantially parallel tubular members 8| are slidably mounted on the parallel depending por.

The tubular members 8| are connected by a U-shaped strap 83 intermediate the parallel portions 19 of the pulley support bars 11.` The strapy 83 provides bearings in which pulleys 84 and 85 are rotatably supported. A Vfoot 86, having a tubular part 81 slidably mounted on the arm 13 and a saddle 88 resting against a pad 89 on the foot 3 of the bed, provides an auxiliary support for the arm 13. Thumb screw 98, threaded into the tubular part 81, secures the foot'in a desired longitudinal position on the bar 13.

In the structure disclosed, the arms 42, 43, 44, 60 Vand `liti provide adjustable pulley supports which are utilized securelyV to support a patients limb in a particular desired position. The pulleys 84 and 85 are utilized for suspending weights from a limb to provide traction on the limb. y

By utilizing a rectangular central bar such as 33 of suiiicient strength and rigidity between the support; posts 5 and 20', the arms 42, 43, and 44 are iirmly and nonrotatably-supported in xed positions with respect to the'bar'33 Without the necessity of a double support frame or other auxiliary supporting structure. The elimination of the additional supporting frame or auxiliary supporting structure provides better access to the patient and bed and simpliles the structure. Also the diagonal relation between the cross section of the bar 33 and the axes of the support posts 5 and 20 provides greater rigidity in the direction of maximum stress. The adjustment of the length of the support post 5 by longitudinal movement of the part 6 with respect to the part 1`is utilized to level the bar 33 with respect to beds having different heights of heads.

While I have illustrated and described a pre- `ferred embodiment of my invention, many modijiications may be made wit-hout departing from /the .spirit of the invention and I do not Wish to be limited to the precise details set forth but desire to avail myself of all changes Within the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

In a surgical frame for hospital beds, in combination, comprising an end support post adapted to be secured to an end of the bed, the support post having a plurality of angularly disposed sides, means fcr securing the support post to the end of the bed, an arm extending from the support post and also having a plurality of angularly disposed sides, clamping means for the arm engaging the sides of the support post to secure the arm in position and prevent rotation of the arm with respect to the support post, a pulley support having a tubular part iitted to the arm and adjustable longitudinally of the arm, and a foot having a tubular part fitted to the arm and means engaging the bed to brace the arm. EARL' E. LONGFELLOW." 

